I posted this in the 61-66 forum, but then I figured that this should probably be posted here as well.

Anyways, after you've started your truck, how long do you let your 292 warm up until you take off?

Currently I've been letting my Y-block warm up completely (to about 180 degrees) before leaving. I wonder at what point you could do damage to these engines if you don't let them warm up enough...

 

That sounds like overkill to me. I treat it like any other engine. Let it warm up some, (a minute or 2) and start driving, but drive gently until it warms up.

 

Yeah, it sounded like overkill to my dad too.

Thanks for the response.

 

I wouldn't even wait the 2-3 minutes before starting to move, IF I could take my time accelerating. If I had to go onto a freeway or heavy traffic, I'd wait in the driveway longer. If I could creep around a sub-division or country road, I'd be moving. It seems to me that the engine is not the only 'cold' thing, and all the rest needs to flex a bit before pushing the go-pedal hard. I remember in the past how stiff the suspensions would feel because the grease in the ball-joints was so stiff it didn't want to allow the suspension to flex in response to road surface imperfections.
just an opinion...
tom

 

Yeah, these are all great points which I have also thought of. For example, I swear it gets easier to steer the longer I drive and the more warmed up all the joints get.

I know that once the engine is warmed up, it drives great, but until then, as long as I take it easy, it'll do its job. But if you try to get on it while its not fully warmed up, it won't return the favor.

 

I always started it up and drove away within 1 minute. Long enough to check the gauges and fiddle with the radio. Shifted under 3K until the temp gauge moved and oil pressure dropped (oil warmed up). Drove it like I stole it from then on. Outside temp or having to get on the highway didnt matter.

The sooner you drive it the quicker it will warm up. Sitting there so long all your doing is wasting fuel.

 

I let my 272 run about 5 minutes and then go. This is with a 10,000 lb truck and no choke. It was a Georgia truck and now in Ohio. When cold it still starts right up,but is tempormental till it warms a little.

 

You mean there is not choke on your truck or do you mean you do not use the choke to start it up? Either way, wow! I have to choke even on warm days when I first start it.

 

You have to use the choke every time you start it?? Wow, I never use the choke.

All I have to do is give it three blips of gas, turn the key and it fires right up, every time and idles.

 

Same here. No need for a choke.

 

The reason carbureted engines are equipped with chokes is because when properly tuned and jetted, they need one! I'm running an Edelbrock 500 on my 292 and it wants some choke when cold. I generally start the engine on full choke, then immediately push it in 90 % when it fires. Then I wait until oil pressure is up and I drive off gently. Within 2 minutes I push the choke in all the way. I have my carb tuned this way for the best compromise between power, driveability and economy. You guys that need no choke may be running a little rich...

 

Tuned just fine here, thanks. I used to need the choke before I learned a better way. I use my foot to keep it running. A couple blips of the throttle and my 292 is always ready to go.

 

My choke is broken anyways, so I can't use it. But I haven't had to fix it because I haven't needed it.

My engine is tuned nicely as well, plus my shop manual instructs to always run a slightly rich mixture...

 

My 56 is tuned perfect-and since it is in the cold Ohio temps I figured it needed a choke. The carb is rebuilt and no choke at all --NONE it was a south Georgia truck and was delete heater and no choke either. WHY ?? It will start right up and runs ok,except now I have a ticking and getting ready finally---to install the external oiling kit. I had back surgery and still needing to be very careful---but need to see if this will stop the ticking. I have a kit--no directions. I am thinking of asking a Ford dealer to find out what to do. Keep me posted if you have ever installed 1. thanks Bill